STAND. COM. REP. NO. 140

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 165

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 165 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the definition of "qualified nonprofit housing trust" to specify organizations that exclusively serve qualified residents as defined in section 201H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Holomua Collaborative, one individual.

Your Committee finds that qualified nonprofit housing trusts play an important role in addressing the State's ongoing housing shortage. By repurchasing affordable units, nonprofit housing trusts ensure housing units remain affordable for residents who may otherwise relocate out of state to regions with lower housing costs. Clarifying the definition of "qualified nonprofit housing trust" to require exclusive focus on qualified residents of the State will ensure that taxpayer funds spent through the Rental Housing Revolving Fund are used only for individuals who are domiciled and physically live in the State to further the State's goals of keeping local working families in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 165 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair